When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

“To the boys who get called girls,the girls who get called boys,and those who live outside these words.To those called names,and those searching for names of their own.To those who live on the edges, and in the spaces in between.I wish for you every light in the sky.”

What a wonderful way for an author to introduce a novel. When the Moon Was Ours is a magical realism novel that tells the story of love and friendship between Miel and Sam. Miel is an outcast who fell out of a water tower when she was five years old, and roses grow out of her wrist. Sam is a young trans boy, struggling with his identity, and known for painting moons and hanging them in trees. We are taken on a journey through their personal struggles and stories, which are expressed through beautiful writing.

There is a very whimsical and dream-like quality to this novel, which is absolutely lovely and reminded me why I adore stories with magical realism. The characters are compelling and the way in which the author tackles different social issues along with those surrounding identity is effective, relatable, and ultimately very powerful. There are moments throughout the early sections that are a little confusing and hard to follow, however once I got into the flow of the story it became quite engaging. A truly beautiful novel I recommend for anyone who enjoys magical realism.